Gov’t to follow SC ruling on release of drug war documents

The government is prepared to follow the Supreme Court (SC) ruling on the release of the police documents related to the war on illegal drugs.

“We always follow the rule of law. The Supreme Court has spoken,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

“Unless it reverses itself upon a motion for reconsideration by the Solicitor General, obedience to its ruling should come as a matter of course,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it does not see a problem should police reports and all other documents related to the administration’s anti-illegal drug operations be released publicly.

According to Police General Oscar Albayalde, PNP chief, submitting the drug war documents to the SC for scrutiny means the police organization has nothing to hide.

“No problem, yes, because if you will not investigate that, it means there is negligence. On our part, the Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) conducted investigations also,” he said.

However, Albayalde said the decision must first be approved by President Duterte and the OSG.

“We will get orders from the President since he is the Commander-in-Chief, whatever he says, we will obey,” he noted.

The Supreme Court has ordered the Solicitor General to submit the police reports related to the deaths linked to the government’s anti-drug operations.

The SolGen was also ordered to furnish copies of the documents to the petitioners who questioned the legality of the government’s drug war before the court.

From July 1, 2016 to February 28, 2019, a total of 5,281 drug personalities have already been killed in anti-illegal drug operations, according to government data.

However, rights groups claimed more than 20,000 cases of deaths under investigation (DUI), including those killed by supposed vigilantes, are also being probed by the PNP.

“All police operations and even those deaths under investigation are being investigated and covered by spot reports. We have solved some of them, I just don’t know how many percentage of the cases [were solved],” Albayalde said.

The country’s top cop disclosed that all spot reports on anti-illegal drug operations of the PNP since the drug war was launched when Duterte assumed office in 2016 have been given to the OSG.

Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno hailed the Supreme Court’s order to release all documents pertaining to the anti-drug campaign as a “big step towards accountability and justice.”

Diokno is the chair of the Free Legal Assistance Group that filed different petitions in 2017 before the SC questioning the legality of the government’s drug war. The other petitioner is the Center for International Law.

“Kinatutuwa natin na pumanig sa FLAG at sa mga biktima ng EJK ang Korte Suprema sa resolusyon nitong payagan ang aming petisyon na atasan ang administrasyong Duterte na ilabas lahat ng dokumentong konektado sa war on drugs (We are happy the Supreme Court stands with FLAG and victims of EJK in its resolution that ordered the Duterte administration to release all documents connected with the war on drugs),” he said.

President Duterte launched an aggressive crackdown on the illegal drug trade at the start of his term. The government, however, has drawn criticisms here and abroad about the alleged police abuses in the operations.

Unfazed by rights concerns, Duterte has vowed to continue the drug war during the remainder of his term. (With a report from Raymund F. Antonio)